Should I leave NICU? To do MBU

[Camar_yn]

Hi all. I was lucky enough to get hired at a level 3 NICU after having 2 yrs experience in a special care nursery. For a long time, I thought this was my next goal after level 2. I finished orientation about 3 weeks ago, and if you were to ask my preceptor or peers, they would tell you I’m doing a pretty good job. I feel as if I’m cheating myself, however, because I don’t LOVE the NICU setting as much as I imagined I would. I don’t feel like I’m thriving in an intensive setting where everyone feeds off of adrenaline and high level care. I don’t know if I should give it more time and see if it grows on me. Maybe the more comfortable I am, the more ill like it. But I just really think the setting isn’t for me. All of my colleagues are wonderful. But I’m noticing a lot of Type A personalities- which I do not have. I have contemplated talking to my director about possibly doing MBU instead and floating in the NICU once in a while, but I’ve never worked directly with the post partum mother unless it was about the baby. I would appreciate some insights.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think you should give it a bit more time. You don't sound miserable ... and as you said, you might find that it suits better after you have settled into the unit a while.

You seem to be basing your thoughts a lot on the fact that you are not a "Type A personality" or "adrenaline junkie." There are lots of people who are not "Type A" who have loved and thrived in NICU. It is not a necessary personality characteristic.

Give it a few months and settle in. Make some friends and become integrated with the staff. Get over the "new" feeling. Then re-visit your question. If you find that you don't like working MBU, that will be a 3rd job you left without staying very long and you will look like a job-hopper. Don't do that to yourself unless you are really unhappy in the NICU and hate it -- and you just don't sound like you hate it.